ERASMUS Mundus Master's Programme EUROPHOTONICS Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The Master's programme covers some of the most rapidly expanding fields in physics and material sciences, dealing with the control, manipulation, and monitoring of light and its interaction with matter.

It aims at providing an extensive, two-year programme from fundamentals to advanced research topics in photonics and its interdisciplinary applications. Master's students benefiting from this programme will be able to work on today's new challenges in their academic or applied research careers: understanding and controlling matter and optical phenomena at the ultimate nanometric scale, providing new imaging tools for the most complex biological processes from cells and tissues to clinical applications, and bringing original tools into line with future optical devices.

This two-year Master's programme (120 ECTS credits) is organised by five groups of institutions: Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III University (France), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) / Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics (Germany), Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya / Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona / University of Barcelona / ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) (Spain), Tampere University of Technology (Finland), and Vilnius University (Lithuania). These institutions are recognised for their high-quality training and research centres in the field of optics and photonics and their applications, with the unique opportunity to benefit from the presence of excellent and interdisciplinary research institutes, high-level advice from professors and administrative staff as well as local companies and international cooperation networking.

Along with the organising universities, there are five non-European universities that are partners of the programme: University of Rochester (USA), University of Gondar (Ethiopia), University of Shanghai Jiao Tong (China), University of Sydney (Australia), and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico).

Selected based on their scientific and English language levels, students will follow the first semester of fundamental lectures in optics and its applications in Marseille. The second semester on core subjects will be spent in Karlsruhe. The third specialisation semester is proposed as a choice (restricted by conditions based on the marks obtained during the first semester) between the five institutions. The last semester is dedicated to the Master's thesis and the summer school.

This programme is dedicated to students with backgrounds in physics or engineering, who will receive a multiple Master's degree awarded from the universities where they spent their semesters. The teaching language is English.

Erasmus Mundus Scholarship:
Per academic year, several Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available for EMMP EU students (category B) and non-EU students (category A).

Programme & mobility structure:

• First semester: fundamentals
• Second semester: core subjects & industry internship
• Third semester: specialisation
• Fourth semester: Master's thesis

Depending on the personal mobility structure, graduates receive a Master of Science degree awarded by at least two universities. For the two-year Master of Science (MSc) programme, 120 ECTS points are awarded. The language of instruction is English.

Aix-Marseille University (France), Ecole Centrale de Marseille (France), Universities of Barcelona – UPC, ICFO, UB, UAB (Spain), Tampere University of Technology (Finland), Vilnius University (Lithuania)

Five non-European universities are also partners of the programme: University of Rochester (USA), University of Gondar (Ethiopia), University of Shanghai Jiao Tong (China), University of Sydney (Australia), and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico).

An eight-week industry internship is integrated into the Master's curriculum. The KSOP offers an elaborate internship programme in cooperation with well-known industry partners such as Bosch, Carl Zeiss AG or Polytec.

January 2027

For application to the Erasmus Mundus Europhotonics programme, you must hand in the following documents:

• Officially certified copies and translations of your diplomas into English  (first university degree and others – do not send secondary school diploma). Selected students will be asked to bring the original diplomas upon arrival. In case your current degree has not yet been achieved, please upload a letter from your university declaring the expected completion date, as well as available transcripts.
• Certified English translation of transcripts (BSc or equivalent, and MSc, if available)
• Clear copy of passport
• Documentation for language tests (copy of the TOEIC score/IELTS report sheet)
• Letter of motivation
• Two letters of reference/recommendation
• Up-to-date curriculum vitae (two pages maximum) with photo

Approx. 150 EUR per semester that are later refunded

The estimated general living expenses per month for a single student are as follows: 

• public transportation: approx. 34 EUR
• food: approx. 170 EUR
• pocket money: approx. 150 EUR
• compulsory German health insurance: approx. 120 EUR

International students have the opportunity to work part-time during their studies at KIT. Local industry and businesses are constantly looking for temporary staff. Additionally, there are various positions available as student assistants at KIT.

However, students should check with the authorities if and to what extent they are allowed to work. They should also be aware that taxes and social contribution fees may apply.

Scholarships run for the entire programme duration of two years. There will only be a small number of scholarships available each year.

German language courses and career workshops are offered to students who are interested.

Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month. Private rooms are more expensive (approx. 300 EUR).

The International Students Office offers support in finding accommodation for newly enrolled international students. It works closely together with the student union "Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe", the organisation that manages the student residences in Karlsruhe. The International Students Office can also help students to find private accommodation.

However, students should keep in mind that there is a general shortage of housing in Karlsruhe. They should start looking at an early stage, especially if starting their studies in the winter semester.

https://www.kit.edu/study/living-and-learning-in-karlsruhe.php